The Arts in New York City

Parlez-vous français? . . . I didn’t think so.  In fact, I’m sure even someone who spoke perfect French would have a little trouble understanding the singers from the opera Les Contes D’Hoffmann.  But even with a language barrier, one has to appreciate fine music and incredible voices (subtitles help too).  I’ll admit, I had a predetermined image in my mind what that night was going to be like: a big fancy theatre (which was correct), over priced food and drink (again correct), lots of well dressed (if not over the top in some cases) richer people (correct once more), and a group of over weight, big voiced singers who spouted classical sounding music from their over worked lungs and throat.  That’s where I was proven wrong completely.  Not only were some of them skinny (gasp!) but also, they sounded incredible, and the music was much better than I expected.

So Les Contes D’Hoffmann isn’t the big, bad, boring thing I thought it was going to be.  I enjoyed it, and I’d love to go again (with better seats though, I think my vision decreased again…).  Opera has been given a bad name and is considered the “old rich people’s entertainment,” especially by younger audiences who stick to movies, TV, and the occasionally rare play or musical.  What these “opera virgins” don’t know is that opera is an incredible experience, its something so unique, that a big time Broadway musical cannot be compared on the same level.

This production spoke volumes to me (albeit in a foreign language) and everything about it-the music, the characters, the plot-provided an entertaining and memorable experience.  The music was something I didn’t expect at all; it was both meaningful and serious, or romantic or even comical, like when Hoffmann told the story of Kleinzach the dwarf (klick klack, klick klack!).  I’m sure I’m not the only one of our group that enjoyed the performance; despite the fact that I could swear I saw one or two heads droop down from time to time.

What I found so intriguing about the plot was that each act contained some of the same actors playing different parts, obviously Hoffmann was present throughout, but the use of the same person to play the nemesis in all four parts really placed emphasis on the different incarnations of evil.  And the three “loves” representing the three faucets of Stella, the prima donna, the woman he falls for, was brilliant.  The character of the Muse and Nicklausse was especially interesting to watch, because the ways in which “Nicklausse” tries to warn Hoffmann show the character’s sympathy and patience.  However, everyone has a point of frustration, which was met during every act; but watching the Muse walk off to one side and watch with a face of disappointment and aggravation really made her relatable.

So even though “Je ne comprends pas le français,” I can appreciate the beauty and poetry of the songs in the performance.  Maybe it was a fluke that I enjoyed it, or maybe I should start to consider the opera in a more positive light.  I won’t be sure ‘til I hear the fat lady sing (again).

If you want to see a spectacular, entertaining, enjoyable performance, then Contes D’Hoffman is definitely the performance to see. The stage was an unbelievable sight during all three acts of the opera. I especially loved the stage design and costumes at the end of the first act, when Olympia was dancing for the patrons of Spalazzi’s. The bright colors and glittery set were absolutely amazing. Additionally, the singing and dancing made the opera even more enjoyable.

As my first opera, I had no idea what to expect. I am happy, however, that Contes D’Hoffman was the first opera I saw. I love to see performances that are loves stories, and this performance had three. Since we read about it in advance, I understood the main themes in the opera, and was able to better understand the story line as it was unfolding during the performance. The first act was easiest to follow, especially since we read the specific story of Olympia before we saw the performance. I didn’t particularly like looking back and forth from the stage to the subtitles on the seat in front of me, so I ended up mostly watching only the stage during the performance.

Although at times it was difficult to follow the opera, mainly because it was in French, it still appealed to people of our generation. I thought some of the costumes were a bit too revealing, but this was mainly a result of the director’s aim to please a younger audience. During the scenes in the bar, when the women came out practically naked, I was wondering if Offenbach pictured these costumes (or lack thereof) when he wrote the opera. Throughout the rest of the show, the women wore beautiful dresses and gowns, very different from the old fashioned, conservative costumes I had envisioned for operas. At certain times during the performance, the costumes even started to remind me of a Broadway show, mainly due to the loud, vibrant colors.

Antonia, Hoffman’s lover in the second act, had a soft, beautiful voice, and a gentle costume to match. Its neutral, light color displayed her innocence and soft nature. This was a wonderful contrast to the character of Olympia who was a robot. The character of Antonia sang from her heart and wanted to pursue her passion even though her father would not allow her too. On the contrary, Olympia did exactly what her father told her to do, since her father programmed her and she had no mind of her own.

We learned in class that different people enjoy different aspects of the opera, and I personally liked looking at the stage and listening to the music, even if I didn’t always know what the performers were singing. I still find myself singing Klick, Klack. Klick Klack.

I thought every single performer was incredibly talented. The singer who played Hoffman carried the entire performance. I was happy that most of the singers acted and moved around as they were singing, and were not just blocked and doing the “park and bark.” I remember distinctly waiting outside for the opera to start and saying that I wanted to see a performance at the ballet. I’m happy to say that I was able to see the dance performance I had been hoping to see. I couldn’t help but smile when the characters performing the part of Olympia came onto the stage on pointe. The dancing performed by the main Olympia at the end of the first act could have been a dance performance all on its own.

Overall, I am happy that I had the opportunity to see this opera and am looking forward to returning to Lincoln Center to see another opera.